JRB-3 Voyager

The JRB‑3 Voyager is a single‑engine, low‑wing aircraft produced by Beechcraft in the early 1970s as a specialist evolution of the classic Model 35 Bonanza line. Conceived to meet the growing demand for high‑performance, long‑range personal and business transport, the Voyager first flew on 12 March 1972 and entered limited production the following year. Its most distinctive feature is the all‑composite, semi‑monocoque fuselage that reduced empty weight by roughly 12 % while preserving the robust structural integrity Beechcraft is known for. Powered by a fuel‑injected Continental TSIO‑550‑J 300 hp engine with a constant‑speed propeller, the JRB‑3 offers a cruise speed of 210 kt and a maximum range of 1,300 nm, thanks to integrated wingtip fuel tanks and a retractable landing gear system optimized for aerodynamics. The cockpit incorporates a glass panel avionics suite, dual autopilot, and enhanced weather radar, making it suitable for IFR operations. Though only 87 units were built, the JRB‑3 Voyager earned a reputation for reliability and efficiency, influencing the design philosophy of later Beechcraft business aircraft such as the King Air 200 series and solidifying Beechcraft’s role in advancing modern, high‑performance single‑engine aviation.

Beechcraft

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Design & Classification